Memory

 

Memory

All of us who are mature should let go of our yesterdays

Let go of both failures and successes, good and bad

Yesterday is over

It is today, time to let go of the past and reach for the future

Let the memories of yesterday teach you

Let the hope of tomorrow guide you

And today stretch, with one hand letting go

And the other hand reaching for the prize God has for you  

There is a lot of talk about emotional maturity

Your emotional maturity will grow

As you let God make clear to you the reason Christ Jesus took hold of you

Don’t forget John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Take hold of the full and abundant life Jesus came to give you

Let go, forget the things that keep you from the prize

 

 

Memory

 

Some people can remember everything

and describe every detail.

 

I have always been jealous of those people.

 

In school, I could not remember what was taught

or what I studied for when test time came.

 

I know I spent more time trying

to memorize the answers than others.

 

It did not seem fair that I worked harder

and got the lower grades.

 

I love people, but to remember a name

has always been very hard for me.

 

At 70 years of age,

I finally found a blessing in not having a good memory.

 

I don’t get stuck in the past.

 

I look forward to the future.

 

The apostle Paul said…

 

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

 But one thing I do:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize

for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

Philippians 3:13-15

 

They say…

 

 “Don’t cry over spilled milk.”

 

Maturity comes to those who are

resilient and press on to triumph.

 

Paul says you have to let go of the past

to reach the future.

 

Or, arms are not long enough to hang on

to the past and live in the future.

 

I do get upset at mistakes I made

and I do get upset at the mistakes of others.

 

I get buyer’s remorse.

 

I do know pain, loss, suffering, guilt, disappointment,

my past is full of them.

 

But for me,

they do not keep me from the future.

 

For all of you who did well in school

because you can remember everything…

 

I now have something to be grateful for

in having a poor memory.

 

I find it easier to forgive…

 

 Easier to move through the dark clouds

because I see a future more then I do the past.

 

Like everything there is a positive and a negative.

  

The positive of a good memory is…

 

 You will do good in school

but you may have a hard time seeing

a promising future when…

 

 Disappointments, loss, and grief live in your memory.

 

For those who have a bad memory…

 

 You may have done poorly in school

but you find it easier to forgive

and let go of past hurt and pain

for a brighter future.

 

I am still envious of all you people

who have great memory abilities.

 

 I am glad it is easier for me

to not let my past define me.

 

All of us will do well if…

 

 We have the same outlook as the Apostle Paul.

 

There is more to come

that you and I have not reached.

 

So, forget the things in your past

that keep you living in the past.

 

Press on…

 

 Strain as you reach out for the prize.

 

All of us who are mature

should let go of our yesterdays.

 

Let go of both failures and successes,

good and bad.

 

Yesterday is over.

 

It is today…

 

 Time to let go of the past and reach for the future.

 

Let the memories of yesterday teach you.

 

Let the hope of tomorrow guide you.

 

And today stretch…

 

 With one hand letting go

and the other hand reaching for

the prize God has for you.

  

There is a lot of talk about emotional maturity.

 

Your emotional maturity will grow as you let God

make clear to you the reason Christ Jesus took hold of you.

 

Don’t forget John 10:10…

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

Take hold of the full and abundant life

Jesus came to give you.

 

Let go…

 

 Forget the things that keep you from the prize.

 

For those who have good memories

and can let go of the past…

 

For those who are pressing on

for the prize Christ has for you…

I am doubly jealous

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

 Philippians 3:12-16 NIV

 

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.